Updated on:12/04/2025 04:22 PM 
Leading developers from the Azuki team, spearheaded by Cygaar_dev, have ingeniously crafted smart contract code designed to block celebrity DJ Steve Aoki from acquiring NFT collections, effectively addressing what the community has termed the "Aoki Effect."
In a groundbreaking social media post on August 10, the innovative Azuki developer proposed that NFT project creators experiencing consistent floor price declines following Aoki's interest could implement this protective code directly into their project's smart contracts.
Following this trend, numerous NFT ventures, including the popular Edgehogs collection, have adopted similar measures as a playful yet strategic approach to stabilize their market positions.
Within the digital collectibles community, a noticeable pattern has emerged where NFT collection floor prices experience significant depreciation shortly after Steve Aoki publicly discloses his acquisition of pieces from that collection.
This recurring scenario has prompted NFT enthusiasts and analysts to label this phenomenon as the "Aoki Effect," drawing parallels to traditional market dynamics influenced by high-profile investors.
For instance, historical data reveals that after Aoki invested in the Moonbirds NFT collection, the floor price plummeted from approximately 30 ETH to 22 ETH within a short timeframe.
A similar market reaction occurred when Aoki revealed his Azuki NFT holdings, as the collection's floor price dropped from its peak of 36 ETH following his public announcement.
While some market participants attribute these value fluctuations to a supposed celebrity curse, financial analysts suggest that the NFT market's reaction to Aoki's investments can be explained through traditional supply and demand principles.
In the specific case of Azuki NFTs, Aoki's acquisition coincided with revelations from the collection's founder regarding previous project abandonments, which likely influenced market perception independently of Aoki's involvement.
Additionally, several of Aoki's notable purchases occurred during periods of broader cryptocurrency market downturns, when overall NFT trading volumes were declining across the industry. These macroeconomic factors significantly contributed to the valuation adjustments observed in various NFT collections.
Despite the market reactions to his investments, Steve Aoki has maintained his status as one of the most prominent NFT collectors, with an impressive portfolio including blue-chip projects like Azuki, Bored Apes, Moonbirds, Goblintown, and 3Landers.
Beyond his role as a collector, Aoki has actively contributed to the NFT ecosystem through his avatar collection on The Sandbox platform, his Dream Catcher NFT series, and the development of his proprietary A0K1VERSE digital environment.
